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Title: Yage Letters by William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg ISBN: 0-87286-004-3 Publisher: City Lights Books Pub. Date: December, 1971 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.29 (7 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: We Have a Latah to Learn
Comment: The Yage Letters is an interesting collection of correspondance from William S Burroughs to Allen Ginsberg spanning from Jan. 15 to July 10, 1953. In addition to capturing the essence of Burroughs style and subject matter, albeit in a rather raw form, the letters tell of his search for the mythic mind-altering natural drug Yage.
Incidentally, this search took place directly after Burroughs had fled from Mexico after the accidental death of his wife at his own hand. Although there are many jewels to be found in this small book for the dedicated fan of Burroughs' work, they are spread throughout with many tedious, repetitious and confusing entries. Ginsburg's contribution, which I hoped would lend a voice of explanation to the letters, is instead a spasmolytic account of his own experience on the same drug, seemingly penned when still under the influence of it.
All in all, an interesting account of one of America's most important author's experiences traveling through Latin and South America in the early 50's--a time of great upheaval and fervor in that region. Highly recommended for Burroughs fanatics and seems to prefigure his work Cities of the Red Night. However, for those not yet familar with his revolutionary writing style I recommend Cities of the Red Night, and Junky.
Rating: 5
Summary: Fruit of the (Yage) Vine
Comment: This is the best collection of letters I have ever read, next to The Letters of William S. Burroughs. Bill's letters to Allen really TAKE YOU THERE, as he once said about Colette. Bill rants against the U.S. Point Four agrarian bureaucracy, missionaries living "the life of Riley", Peruvian boys who roll him for his money, eyeglasses, etc.; however, Bill said to Allen that he "shared with the late Father Flanigan - he of Boys Town - the deep conviction that there is no such thing as a bad boy." Overall, good reading and a good record of South America in the early 1950's.
Rating: 4
Summary: Ancient Hallucinogens and Cut-ups
Comment: The Yage Letters was a correspondence between William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg. Burroughs describes his ongoing search for the ancient drug, starting in Mexico, and finishing in South America. Likewise, Ginsberg finishes where Burroughs left off and the rest is history. I enjoyed reading this book, and was pleased to learn about new cultures and info on hallucinogens. The book can become overwelming in some section, especially the last bit about the cut-up process; nevertheless, it's still an interesting idea, which Burroughs had utilized in every artistic medium. Also included are a few sketches by Ginsberg himself
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Title: The Letters of William S. Burroughs 1945-1959 by Oliver Harris, William S. Burroughs ISBN: 0140094520 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: June, 1994 List Price(USD): $27.00 |
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Title: Last Words: The Final Journals of William S. Burroughs by William S. Burroughs, James Grauerholz ISBN: 0802137784 Publisher: Grove Press Pub. Date: 30 March, 2001 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs ISBN: 0802132952 Publisher: Grove Press Pub. Date: February, 1992 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Junky: The Definitive Text of "Junk" by William S. Burroughs, Oliver Harris ISBN: 0142003166 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 01 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Queer by William S. Burroughs ISBN: 0140083898 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: March, 1995 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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